DJ’s Rebuttal
*So, um…I’m not 100% sure what to say about this, except that remember what I said to Quart’s post yesterday? That I was supposed to say that the views of the author didn’t necessarily reflect the views of the blog OWNER? And then I was all “But they TOTALLY DO, so Yay!” or something of the sort?! Well, these TOTALLY DON’T, so there you go. But I’ve been begging DJ to write a guest post for AGES, so…um, yeah. He finally agreed. A glimpse into what my life is like. ON A DAILY BASIS. I’ll rebut at some point, but I PROMISE on Saturday, I’ll post about Zach & his glasses. Pinky Swear. And I’m a little drunk right now which may or may not be the reason I’m posting this un-edited and without many asides. PS- I was a little drunk when I set this to post. I will not be drunk in the morning when it actually posts. At least I hope.*
~~~~~~~~
Has anyone heard the difference between Osama and Obama? Just kidding babe! If you haven’t heard it through the grapevine, yes, I am using my free time (also called sit on the couch and watch television time) to bring some sense to this blogging arena my lovely wife has created. When Meghan first told me about her endeavor into mommy blogs I thought it was cute. Hell, even I would come home and read her posts about what my children were doing during the day, and get to see pictures of all the crazy situations they (including my wife) got themselves into. But all of a sudden amomtwoboys became a platform for Obama supporters to spout off about how annoying conservative in-laws are, and how they push their views onto poor liberal daughter in-laws. Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife more than anybody (and yes Court, you are still my favorite sister-in-law), but your views are skewed by your pretty little heads. Don’t get mad, just open your minds and read on, and remember we are family by law, and divorces are expensive.
The first issues that come to my mind when people talk about politics and the election is not what is happening in Iraq, not what is not happening in Afghanistan, but what is happening in America, the United States, the place we actually live our daily lives. Now there are certain people in our family whose lives are pre-determined (for lack of a better term, don’t get mad). What I mean by this is the daily grind is there always. Work is there for them in the morning, the paycheck is there at the end of the pay period, and therefore the mortgage and the food is there also. That has been the American way for as long as I can remember, and that is a good thing, but somebody is paying for it. Yes, I am drawing the idea from a stereotypical government worker (i.e. the joke about the Caltrans worker and the shovel), but also from private business and the amount of power an employee has over an owner. I guess what I’m getting at is this: Americans are forgetting that what we have as the world power, as a nation, and as individual families has been earned, not given. Society has become a bunch of “I wants”, “I needs”, not “I’ve earned”. Everything my family and I have today is due to the business my father built through his shear blood and sweat. And yes I am reaping benefits of what he started. But you can ask my wife, I work harder on my father’s business (which will soon be ours) than I ever would if I worked for somebody else, or something else.
Why is this? Because I have something to gain. I can earn as much money as I want because I have the education, and the position, but mainly because I have the want. I want to be able to pay for my kid’s college education without depending on anybody else. I want my family to have the best health care possible. I want my family to have a nice boat to have fun on. I want my family to have a nice house. I want my family to have a nice boat (whoops). I don’t need any help from the government, nor do I need to be taxed so the government can just give it to somebody who has nothing to gain. Don’t get me wrong, I pay my taxes, our business pays taxes, and I have no problem doing it. But somebody is paying for it, whether it be me, or the consumer who has to pay a boat load (yes, boat again) for everything, blame it on the government.
Now that the shit has hit the fan, let me really stir the pot. Drill the damn oil out of the damn ground, put it in an American refinery, and distribute to the gas stations, and quit fucking around. Would we be doing this dance if it were food? If we depended on others for our food, we would have had farms producing food as soon as any fluctuation in price hit. Our country needs food, and energy to survive, we should not be depending on anybody else other than ourselves (remember we don’t like free lunches) to survive. I’m not saying we should stop looking for alternative fuel sources, but in the mean time, we can fix the problem if we just get out of our own way.
So, what is the purpose of me taking time away from my 60” flat screen (and my beautiful wife and children). I really wanted to re-but Court’s attempt to explain herself for wanting to steal from the rich and give to the poor (over and over again until everybody makes the same amount of money, and has no reason to work hard) by voting for Obama, but I thought I would try to appeal to the American in everybody. A vote for Obama is equivalent to an admittance of self doubt. Doubt that Americans don’t have the ability to fend for themselves, that we must depend on somebody else to survive. I hate to bring this to every liberals attention, but that is what you are asking for, somebody (the government) to make sure you can survive. Personally, I don’t need anybody to give me anything, and I sure as hell don’t need Obama reaching into my pocket, taking from my family, to give to somebody or something that has the ability but does not have the want.
I seriously hope I did not offend every liberal reading this blog, but if I did, good. America needs to be shook up a bit, and a political post on a mommy blog spot is a good start? For my first post (and probably last) you are all thinking what an ass I am. But I love my family, and will always do what is best for them, and that is vote for McCain.
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Amy in Ohio on 08 Aug 2008 at 6:51 am #
Before we go crazy and start drilling, I suggest everyone read up on shale drilling (which represents a great deal of the proposed off-shore drill spots being batted around) and what benefits, if any, will be had from such endeavors. Just a brief wrap up from a geology buddy of mine:
*You don’t “drill” shale oil. You need to “force” the oil out of the shale. It’s not in pools, it’s in tiny, minute pockets within the shale.
One way of forcing it out is brine flushing. Salt water if forced under very high pressure into the shale, and the oil then “floats” on top of that water and is claimed. It’s a messy, expensive, and the salt water really messes up the aquafers and waterways of the area
I’ve seen this done in the Red River Gorge area of Kentucky. I would really hate to see it done on a large scale such as is being talked about in the Rockies and elsewhere. Even if it’s not an environmental accident waiting to happen (and I can’t believe it’s not), it’s got to be incredibly expensive.*
And lets just say for the sake of argument that you could produce enough oil to make a dent – China has proven to be willing to pay far more than we currently do for fuel and the American/capitalist way is to sell to the highest bidder. That gas you seem to think is so easy to get to and so beneficial is not “America’s” it will belong to whoever drills it and rest assured they will sell to the highest bidder. OPEC has taught the world well.
The only way to end this energy crisis is to eliminate the crisis with alternative fuels and LESS USAGE.
I won’t touch on the social issues you pose and the concepts you touched on other than to say that most people – especially the middle class don’t have the option of being their own boss. They don’t have the start up or the skills to make such an endeavor profitable, not to mention that businesses fail at an alarming rate, especially in the current economic climate.
It’s commendable to approach work the way you do – no doubt about it, but ask yourself if you’d be in a position to have the business you will soon oversee in this economy if the groundwork hadn’t already been well-laid by your family? Those are the odds millions of Americans face and the climb uphill is only getting worse.
Sure, some people will take advantage of any system you put in place, that is the nature of humanity regrettably. But the vast majority of Americans want to work hard but smart, care for their families and find some form of happiness. Helping our neighbors achieve in the long run helps everyone achieve.
Take the housing market, sure it sucks that bailouts are occurring. I’m appalled when I see BILLIONS of dollars going to corporations that knowingly practiced bad business or restoration to individuals who clearly spent out of their means. But in the bigger picture I think about the family living next to the soon-to-be foreclosed upon property and the effects that foreclosure will have on THEIR property values and quality of life as their block is eaten away by the stigma of foreclosures. It’s a sad circle of life in the mortgage industry – you can do everything right and still suffer the effects of someone else’s poor decisions, bad finances. Sad but true.
I’m not for handouts, I’m for a hand up – resolving the social problems we face as a nation is the only way to restore the American dream for all of us because if I prosper, but my brother fails, how can I enjoy my success?
Just a liberal’s view of things. You have a great wife with wonderful taste, even if you are a Republican. Thanks for getting into the conversation – it’s only through discussion that we’ll come out on the other side understanding each other’s side of things and arriving at compromise.
Amy in Ohios last blog post..And the award goes to…
Quart on 08 Aug 2008 at 6:51 am #
Touche. Though I think the point of my post is being missed here. As I said, I am obviously an Obama supporter and you have every right to disagree with that. What I was trying to say in that post, however, is that you can not like Obama for plenty of reasons (and you obviously have plenty), but not liking him because he’s black and falsely Muslim is sick and twisted and I hate that my in-laws, who I love, feel that way. Spreading racist, hate-filled emails is not how you should get your point across. Writing well thought out, articulate blog posts on left-leaning mommy blogs is a much better alternative.
I wasn’t trying to create a Democrat vs. Republican debate here, as you, and apparently Angie, have interpreted. I just wanted to voice my distaste at the nastiness going around the Internet. So thank you, DJ, for thinking for yourself and for having actual views and opinions that don’t make me want to smack you upside the head. Well, I kind of want to smack you upside the head, but then you might not let me on your boat.
And don’t think that the fact that I’m your ONLY sister-in-law went unnoticed!
Amy in Ohio on 08 Aug 2008 at 7:28 am #
Quart – Who is Angie?
Amy in Ohios last blog post..And the award goes to…
Your other aunt on 08 Aug 2008 at 7:30 am #
Can’t wait for the next family get-together!
mamagingertree on 08 Aug 2008 at 7:44 am #
I think my husband wants to marry DJ.
mamagingertrees last blog post..Same Bedlam, Prettier Surroundings
Grandmaother on 08 Aug 2008 at 8:02 am #
Stating your case, not vicious e-mails and tire pressure gauges – that’s the idea.
Denise @ EatPlayLove on 08 Aug 2008 at 8:12 am #
Words spoken truly from a white man, the lesser lazy ass “other americans” taking from your hard earned full pockets. How dare they.
I love your comparison to oil and food, but drilling for oil, destroying pristine areas of wilderness and ruining ecosystems is hardly the same solution as having a farmer work the land to feed Americans. It’s not even close to the same perspective. I leave you with, what type of environmental legacy do you want to leave your boys?
What about giving tax breaks to large corporations or protecting corporations over American citizens? That’s a legacy one could only hope Obama can work on breaking. It’s sickening our economy from the ground up.
I hope you aren’t too disappointed when Barack is sworn into office in January.
Denise @ EatPlayLoves last blog post..Do You Think My Shop Vac Would Clog Sucking Up Mrs.C.O.B.??? (the video evidence)
heather... on 08 Aug 2008 at 8:21 am #
Politics make me drink.
heather…s last blog post..The Best Medicine
heather... on 08 Aug 2008 at 8:23 am #
P.S. I can’t wait for Dylan’s guest post. That’s next, right?
heather…s last blog post..The Best Medicine
merlotmom on 08 Aug 2008 at 8:55 am #
Oooh, DJ ain’t gettin’ no nookie tonight! It’s okay we’ll love you anyway – by association.
But Why Mommy / Renee on 08 Aug 2008 at 9:14 am #
I agree with Amy. You have a good life because of what your parents did before you. So do I, so do a lot of people. But it was not a result of the Republicans or the Democrats, it was a result of their own hard work.
Unforunately right now the economy is such that working hard doesn’t mean you are going to get ahead. People work 2 or 3 jobs to support their family and sometimes that is not enough. That is not the American way, we need to do something about it.
But debating the issue like reasonable adults is the way to go. You and I can agree to disagree and then we can do something about it. We can vote and that is great.
But Why Mommy / Renees last blog post..Hair, The Musical
Sunshine/Melody on 08 Aug 2008 at 10:26 am #
Wow – this has the potential to get ugly.
The whole point of Quart’s post yesterday was that no matter WHO you plan to vote for, the name-calling and trash-talking is not good.
As far as I know, no one has ever been injured, maimed or killed by an opinion, so let people have theirs. It won’t hurt you.
Headless Mom on 08 Aug 2008 at 11:28 am #
Ooh, just the reason I don’t do posts like these on my blog.
GO DJ!!!
Renee aka MekhisMom on 08 Aug 2008 at 1:05 pm #
I have to agree with Amy in Ohio. My interpretation of Obama’s political platform is not “taking from the rich to give to the poor.” First off, that would never happen. Second to what end? As Amy stated there are loads of people working 2 or 3 jobs and still they are not making ends meet for various reasons. I think that tax reform (why give wealthy people a huge tax break and take 30% from the average Jane?) is necessary. That the crisis with the price of oil is not predicated by what Democrats have done but by the “war” that was started by Republicans. I don’t particularly care for political discussions. But to imply that Obama wants to play Robin Hood is totally out there. I say let’s focus on the issues at hand, let’s all stop wagging the dog and whoever gets into the white house has a whole lot of mess to clean up!
Renee aka MekhisMoms last blog post..Guilty Pleasure
Sunshine/Melody on 08 Aug 2008 at 1:56 pm #
After I read my previous comment, I realized it sounded rather rude, and as though I was commenting on the post that DJ wrote. I was actually commenting on the comments, but even so, it’s been bugging me all day that I came across as rude, so I’m sorry!! LOL!
Sunshine/Melodys last blog post..Oh, The Google searches I’m going to get…
Angie @ Keep Believing on 08 Aug 2008 at 10:12 pm #
Wow, AM I the Angie. AM I? AM I?? AM I FAMOUS?? I wasnt turning your last comment into a R v D debate. I was simply stating that stupid emails and ridiculous electronic smearing is going on in both parties. You just saw one against Obama. If you would have seen one against McCain, you probably would have said, How stupid, and brushed it off, but you would not have posted about it. I think Quart and Meg get REALLY TIFFED when they see something anti-democratic come along and they want to scream from the mountain top. This is Meg’s blog, so they are entitled. That is the beauty. BTW, I think your inlaws are idiots for saying things like “did you know about his ring tone?’ Etc. That is ludicrous!!!
However, on a political note, DJ! I LOVE YOU MAN (said in my best Bud LIGHT (from 1995) IMITATION!). I am a Republican somewhat for religious and moral and faith issues, but MAINLY FOR THE VIEWS IN WHICH YOU SPEAK HERE. You don’t have to be a small or large business owner to realize that all Obama wants to do (healthcare, etc.) will cost AMERICANS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. As it is, if you look at who is paying the majority of taxes in this country, it is not you and me. It is not the middle class (which I am) It is DEFINITELY NOT THE POOR. It is the wealthy. It is the business owner. If we continue to tax these to expand government programs and social benefits, then jobs will be scarcer because corporate taxes will be higher, inflation will go up and you and I will STILL PAY FOR IT IN THE END. Because to stay in business you have to have a profit. PERIOD. That is just smart. No one out there would have a business unless they were making money or at least breaking even or had extra to share out of the kindness of our hearts, which most of us don’t. So say what you will, but everything Obama wants to do has a price and I can tell you right now no matter how you look at it, the average American will pay for it. Let me introduce you to a little (or 2nd geographically largest) county called Canada with socialized medicine and retiremenet plans and affordable university THAT EVERYONE PAYS FOR through ludicrously high taxes. Honestly if that is what you want, their immigration laws are pretty lenient and they would probably gladly take Americans right now instead of the large influx of every other population they are getting. (and don’t even get me started on illegal immigration in the US for cryinoutloud. WHO THE HECK IS PAYING FOR THAT as they are not paying taxes and abiding by the rules like the rest of us, yet think they deserve some sort of special leniency pass? Would I get a leniency pass if I were to break a law, evade taxes and then just ignore it all??) But in Canada income taxes are EXPONENTIALLY higher than ours to pay for such things. Is that where we want to head? It curbs new business development. It cuts jobs. It stifles economies. Canada’s economy is kicking ass currently because, guess what? THEY HAVE OIL!!! And many other natural resources. Oh and by the way, the oil prices are currently driven by demand which is largely dominated right now by a foreign economy that is growing and causing GLOBAL INFLATION called CHINA. There is little we as Americans can do besides not be reliant on external oil sources and finding alternative fuel means to cut that. Oh, and by the way, why do any of us care about this? Because, it affects our pocketbooks. All of us. That is my point about all Obama wants to do. Anyway, I am ranting because, woo hoo, I am just so excited to see someone share my views for the reasons that are so difficult to get across to most.
Just ask yourself as you look at ‘change you think you can believe in’ – how much and who is gonna pay for it??
KEEP BELIEVING
Angie @ Keep Believings last blog post..Because you don’t get enough medical jargon out of me regarding my OWN family…
Grandma Pam on 09 Aug 2008 at 9:36 am #
In response to Amy in Ohio, Denise, Renee and all the others who are liberals with no give or take, I am DJ’s mother, who with my husband have been in business for 28 years and have seen many ups and downs in the economy. Our business is a small corporation and we have been very fortunate in the style of living it has given us. We have worked hard from having 5-7 employees at a time which we have paid our share of taxes to the government to having no employees and having to put in 10-15 hour days. My husband would work in the field during the 8-10 hours during the day and then work until midnight figuring plans for other jobs that would hopefully create more work so that we could draw a paycheck. We by no means have full pockets and at times have lived from paycheck to paycheck. DJ has the opportunity to have the family business to create a way of providing for his family without the help of any government agency. If businesses are taxed to the limit of making everyone equal, doesn’t this sound like socialism? If someone wants to work harder than someone who would like everyone to be equal, I feel that they should be able to do that without being penalized. Don’t get me wrong. I love my daughter-in-law verrrrrry much and it does upset me when she gets so upset with our discussions but with her and DJ owning a business, I am hoping that somewhere down the road she will be open to accepting DJ’s Republican views. Better quit before I get too carried away.
Meghan on 09 Aug 2008 at 10:24 am #
Grandma Pam-
Thanks for finally commenting. I’ve been wondering what would finally compel you to throw your hat into the ring.
About my getting upset during our “discussions”: I get so worked up because they’re NOT discussions. They’re one sided diatribes against the evils of liberal thinking. They’re long-winded, rhetoric spewing Fox News quoting monologues. And when I so much as ATTEMPT to put my two cents in, I get interrupted each and every time. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to have a rational discussion when you’re not able to utter a sentence without being interrupted, talked down to, and treated like an uneducated child. THAT’s why I get so worked up.
DJ and I have had MANY conversations where we’ve both agreed on issues. THAT’S not the problem. This “liberal with no give-or-take” is exactly the problem as I see it. Except that it’s YOUR side with no give or take. Republicans think it’s their way or the highway, as has been the Bush administrations policy for so long, and look where it’s gotten us.
I’m sick and tired, and honestly incredibly saddened, that this is where our country is right now. I’m frustrated, as is Quart, with the amount of hate-filled crap being bantered about by the Conservative Religious Right. I’m disgusted that the more Moderate Republicans don’t do anything to stop it.
I’m hopefully that Barack Obama is the candidate who can give HOPE back to this country. A sense of pride. A sense of commonality. A sense of respect for ALL American’s regardless of race, creed, economic status, religious beliefs, or any other “defining” factor.
Do I take issue with some of his stances, policies and positions. Sure, of course. But I give credit to DJ’s ability to run your business. To create, eventually, a life that the boys and I are comfortable in, regardless of who is elected. And in my opinion, the world will be a much nicer place in which my boys can grow up if Obama is elected.
Grandma Pam on 09 Aug 2008 at 11:18 am #
Meg: I was a lot like you when Rick and I were first married. Believe me I understand where you are coming from. We were Democrats and believed that is where is was. Over the years we saw that being strict Democrats was not the logically place to be. I do not like to preach or talk politics because I feel that it is everyones right to vote their own way. We have voted for both Republicans and Democrats, whichever one we felt would do us the most good. I do respect your views. I just don’t want a government dictating to me what I have to do for my employees(health care etc.). It will ruin the ability for a business to make the best profit if it is taxed any more. I was always told not to bring up politics or religion in any conversation. It causes arguments. Love you lots and hope for the best. Mom
Quart on 09 Aug 2008 at 12:54 pm #
People. Let’s all take a deep breath. I am sincerely sorry for creating all of this discord. Again, I repeat, I have no problem with people choosing to vote Republican. I don’t do it myself, and I don’t get upset when others do. What I don’t get is the blatant racism that otherwise decent people are displaying. That’s my issue. I wasn’t “spouting off about how annoying my conservative in-laws are.” I was spouting of f about the shit emails they forward to me. Like Grandma Pam, I’ve learned not to bring up politics or religion as a general rule. I am lucky that my in-laws choose to not bring up politics around me, because they know I disagree and we have plenty of other things to talk about.
I think it’s time to close comments and move on. I have a headache, and aren’t we all really just waiting to see pictures of Zach in his glasses?!
Amy in Ohio on 09 Aug 2008 at 1:06 pm #
It’s great to have a vehicle to discuss things and put them out on the table. No one doubts any one’s work ethic – I’m sure it’s as high as the hills.
But no one took time to answer my question – could you, in the current economic climate, create the business you created 28 years ago. If you are willing to be honest, the answer will be no.
It always strikes me funny when people cite religious conviction as part of the reason they are Republicans, as my Christian foundation is a major reason I’m a Democrat. Funny, eh?
De-regulation and demands for small government (irony if you actually look at the MASSIVE expansion of such under Bush) have weakened this economy to the point of near-doom. Enron, anyone?
More importantly, any Republican worth their salt should be screaming bloody murder that McCain is the candidate you ended up with. The moderate maverick indeed. He doesn’t embrace true conservative ideals any more than I do. I can respect a true conservative, but McCain? My goodness, he was a deal away from becoming a Democrat eight years ago and now he carries the party’s torch. The only real conservative we’ve seen in a while was Ron Paul and the GOP wouldn’t give him the time of day.
Stay strong Meghan – this is no longer the age when a wife need adopt their husband’s thinking. That time, thank God, has passed.
Amy in Ohios last blog post..The New Men in My Life
Grandma Pam on 09 Aug 2008 at 2:22 pm #
So, it sounds like Amy in Ohio doesn’t think that the business that DJ is acquiring is going to be prosperous? Hard work and determination and non interruption from government will always make a business strong and prosperous. What has weakened the economy is the businesses who are allowed to conduct work, especially in the Santa Barbara area, under the table. Those not required to purchase workmans compensation because they pay their scab workers under the table(cash) for which they don’t pay payroll taxes and they work out of a garage which causes them to have very low overhead. This has happened because energy requirements have forced our industry to increase pricing because of the need for reduced energy consumption. This has raised prices for “our” product approximately 100% over the last 3 years. This is not because of Bush but the environmentalists!!! Consumer products have increased so much that the average consumer can’t afford any necessary replacements of heaters and air conditioners. I do have to agree that McCain isn’t a saint and from the beginning I thought him to be a liberal conservative. Our situation is such that it won’t matter to us who is elected since we are close to retirement and we have prepared and planned for it our entire adult lives, but we will always worry about our children and grandchildren. We will support whomever is elected!!!!
Marinka on 09 Aug 2008 at 3:01 pm #
I admit that I skip-read the comments and not very carefully at that. For me, the biggest issue for this election, as it was for last election–is the war. It has to stop.
I fear that McCain will perpetuate Bush’s jingoistic policies, and frankly, as the mother of young children, that terrifies me.
Marinkas last blog post..Saturday Tidbits
DJ on 09 Aug 2008 at 3:34 pm #
Now that everyone seems to be done, let me leave with this (Meghan is threatening to close the comments). Amy in Ohio is completely right, you probably could not start a business right now because the benefit of ownership has been completely taken away by taxation, laws, and the shear viewpoint that corporations are evil. Who the hell would want to put up millions of dollars to make a hundred grand when you can get a government job, make great money, have benefits, and probably the most job security in the world?
The problem with the situation is this, who is going to be left to produce goods for the economy that in turn creates revenue (taxes) for the government? There are only going to be large corporations left to do this, and the amount of corruption will be staggering. The small business owner will be driven from the economy because there will be no way to compete with larger businesses. There would be no reason to, because you could have a job with better pay, less stress, and no responsibility. Eventually everything will have the federal government’s hand in it, and to me, that sounds like Socialism.
Meghan on 09 Aug 2008 at 3:43 pm #
And with that, I’m closing comments. I sincerely hope the discussion continues…elsewhere.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If I hear the term “Socialism” one more time, I think my head will explode. And that wouldn’t do anyone any good.
So, thanks for the lively discussion and angina. Now I’m off to finalize Zach’s glasses post.